slang. Also fakeman-charley. [f. as prec. + -MENT; the origin of the longer form is unknown.] A piece of manipulation, contrivance, ‘dodge’; vaguely, a thing, ‘concern’; a trimming, decoration (on an article of clothing).
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. Fakeman-charley, Speaking of any stolen property which has a private mark, one will say, there is a fakeman-charley on it; a forgery which is well executed is said to be a prime fakement; in a word, anything is liable to be termed a fakement, or a fakeman-charley, provided the person you address knows to what you allude.
1823. Egan, in Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue (ed. 3), s.v. Tell the macers to mind their fakements, desire the swindlers to be careful not to forge another person’s signature.
1838. Glascock, Land Sharks, II. 4. I see you’re fly to every fakement.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 52. Pair of long sleeve Moleskin, all colours, built hanky-spanky, with a double fakement down the side and artful buttons at bottom. Ibid., I. 246. Ah! once I could screeve a fakement (write a petition).
1877. W. H. Thomson, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iv. 254. Well, you worked that little fakement in a blooming quiet way, I’m blowed if you haven’t.
